This is the first year U.S. News is ranking schools for veterans services | November 20, 2013

Xavier placed second among 32 Midwest regional universities in a new U.S. News & World Report ranking of colleges and universities that measures their services to veterans.

The rankings, released this week, include 234 schools that were numerically ranked in U.S. News’ Best Colleges edition for 2014 in which Xavier ranked fourth in its region and was included in the top 10 for the 19th year.

The newest rankings for veterans services looked at schools that meet specific criteria, including being a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium, being certified for the GI Bill and participating in the vederal Yellow Ribbon Program.

According to the U.S. News’ report on the rankings, these are the top-ranked schools in the Best Colleges rankings that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active service members apply, pay for and complete their degrees.

The data on veteran benefits was collected as part of a broader survey of undergraduate schools by U.S. News in spring 2013. All Unranked or Rank Not Published schools in the 2014 Best Colleges rankings were excluded from the Best Colleges for Veterans rankings.